The Bengals may have found something in Dohnte Meyers, and they’d be smart to keep digging.
Cincinnati brought in the relatively obscure CFL receiver as a roster hopeful in a crowded wideout room headlined by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The climb ahead is still a steep one, but Meyers has done exactly what you want from a player trying to force his way into the conversation: he’s looked the part on the field and, by all accounts, handled the rest the right way too.
That showed up in Cincinnati’s 16-14 preseason win over the Detroit Lions, when Meyers made the most of his chances. He caught three passes for 29 yards, flashed sharp route-running and some real wiggle after the catch, and even added a 13-yard run. He’s also listed on the Bengals’ depth chart as a return man, though he sits No. 3 in the punt return order behind Charlie Jones and Ke’Shawn Williams.
The buzz around Meyers hasn’t just been about the box score, either. Earlier in camp, he came down with a back-shoulder throw from Joe Burrow, and Bengals radio voice Dan Hoard relayed this quote from offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher:
“There’s a lot to like about Dohnte... He’s diligent, he cares, he’s got real juice, he can separate, and he catches the ball well.
He’s just got to stack days and then, when he gets a chance, make the plays. For the most part, he’s done that.”
That kind of praise matters, especially when it’s tied to a quarterback-receiver connection that’s already getting attention. Burrow also highlighted the fact that Meyers once drove through the night from Atlanta to Cincinnati just to work with him.
“I’m not going to let him outwork me. If he’s ready to throw, I’m ready to catch.”
Dohnte Meyers left Atlanta at midnight and drove through the night to throw with Joe Burrow before training camp.
This year's camp favorite has emerged. @WLWT pic.twitter.com/WR89PTS5fI
- Jaron May (@jaron_may) August 14, 2026
That’s how a player starts turning heads in camp: by showing up, putting in the work, and making sure the quarterback notices. Burrow’s public shoutout only added more fuel to the Meyers momentum.
The next chance for Meyers to keep pushing comes in Week 2 of the preseason against the Chicago Bears, when the starters should get their most work. He should get some snaps there, but the bigger stage may be the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, whose depth chart is loaded thanks to the roster-building of Super Bowl-winning GM Howie Roseman.
The Bengals would do well not to rush past him. Meyers has already shown enough to deserve a longer look, and it would be a shame if he didn’t get the reps needed to keep building on what he’s started.
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